Are Lease Purchases Worth the Risk For Home Sellers?

Lease purchases and lease options are definitelylandlord in order to prove a little payment history to
nothing new to the marketplace. However, they maythe bank.
be new to home sellers under the age of forty. FromIf the concept of a lease purchase is new to you as
the late 1980s up until the mortgage crash interesta home seller, it may seem a little scary. One of the
rates were fairly low (historically speaking) inbest things you can do to protect yourself is demand
qualifying for a new loan was relatively reasonable. Soa substantial purchase deposit. Do not get one
during this time period, very few qualified purchasersmonth's rent like a security deposit. If that's what
needed a lease purchase alternative to buy athey have, you're probably dealing with a lifelong
property.tenant. Be sure to get at least 3% of the purchase
However, things have changed. Now there are a lotprice as the purchase deposit. If you are reflecting
of potential purchasers with reasonable credit thatback to when you bought your property, you are
may not be able to qualify for a new mortgage rightprobably thinking someone with 3% down and fair
away. It may be worth your time to consider somecredit can qualify for a new mortgage. Well that's not
short-term owner financing with one of thesenecessarily the case anymore.
prospective buyers. Naturally, you want to checkAnother thing you want to do before you sign a
their credit and maybe even talk with the lender theylease purchase or lease option with a buyer, is to find
are planning on eventually using to purchase theout their current address and drive by the property.
property. The lender may tell you things lookIn most cases, whatever that property looks like
promising for them to get a new loan in a particularright now is what your property will apply six months
number of months or the lender may tell you not toafter they move in. If the grass is waist deep and
plan on actually cashing out anytime soon.cars are parked in the yard that is just the way they
If your property has already been on the market forlive. Don't kid yourself and think their habits will
a while, you would be amazed at the amount of newchange in your house. If your property is not in the
activity you will get once you add a "Lease Purchasebest of conditions and the way they treat their
Available" header to your for sale sign. There are acurrent property is acceptable, that's great. However
lot of properties on the market, but you will be oneif you have a nice property, taking the time to drive
of the few willing to work with the buyer on theirby their current address is definitely worth it
financing. Many of these people simply need a fewconsidering the value of the asset you are going to
months of steady payments to a lease optionbe turning over to them.